Broadband phone?

Here is the answers to a couple of questions.

What is Broadband Phone and VoIP?

Broadband phone takes ordinary telephony to new heights of versatility and affordability. Basically, if you have a high-speed internet, you can save a lot of money on your local and long distance telephone service by simply ordering the broadband phone. In most cases, it's an adapter that you need to plug into your high-speed modem, and then plug your phone into that adapter and you should be ready to go (off course, you need to have a monthly service subscription). Many of the features for which your local company charges you extra, such as caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, etc., come at no additional charge with broadband phone.
VoIP stands for Voice over the Internet Protocol. The idea is not that new and there were many services available in the past, but within last few years, the service quality has improved significantly, while the cost remains very low.

How Does it Work?

You pick up the phone and dial any number just as you would do with the regular phone service. The signal from your phone is being sent to the VoIP adapter where it's being converted to a digital signal, then sent to your router, then your high-speed modem and finally, to the internet network, where it will be routed to the traditional telephone network, and finally, to the destination number you dialed. As far as the service quality, in most cases you will barely notice any difference.

Pros:

• If you are already paying for a broadband internet conection, you might as well use it to the max.
• Most VOIP plans feture unlimmited calling.
• Lower cost than wired phone plans.
• All the features for no extra charge (most companies and plans).
• Easy online account access and billing (most companies and plans).
• Most areas offer 911 suport, will be available everywhere soon.
• With most broadband companies you can pick an area code anywhere (close to people who call you a lot so they save long distance charges).

Cons:

• Won't work when power is out.
• Won't work if internet is down.
• Sometimes get an ecko or delay.
• Have to dial 11 digits for local calls.

I have a broadband phone and love it. For the price mostly. Of coures I still have my old land line, mostly for reliability and its hard to get rid of something I have had for so long.

Still with only basic landline service and an unlimitted broadband phone plan, my total monthly phone bill is less! Plus I have two numbers!

Here is a link to compare some different broadband plans.

http://ld.net/?page=bp&cogid=rsr4020&refid=ld.net/&aname=M%20S%20Marketing&logo=http://ld.net/images/new_coglogo.gif&url=http://ld.net/?rsr4020&bizop=Y&style=

The services listed on this page cover the norm of broadband plans you will find everywhere.

Need a different source of info? This next link has more VOIP info than you will ever want.

http://www.voip-info.org/wiki/

I say if you have a broadband conection you should be saving money on your phone bill by using VOIP. Don't forget to save the people you talk to most by getting an area code near them.

With a little thought, VOIP could save you and your loved ones or friends quite a bit of cash a month.

Have to go see what I can find for next time............. Scott